Amid rising customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering admission and hotel prices over the last few months.
Since May, Disney has introduced discounted three-day ticket packages for Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom priced at $89 per day, while tickets for the Magic Kingdom still need to be purchased separately. These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lowering ticket costs, Disney is also reducing expenses associated with staying at its resorts. Visitors can book a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for around $100, depending on the booking period. According to Bloomberg, these reductions represent savings of up to 27% off regular rates.
This summer, Disney parks have rolled out new dining packages that offer discounts on meals, reducing costs by 20% to 30%. The dining plan allows families to purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, usable for various meals and snacks within the parks. Disney World is also introducing more quick meal choices, affordable options for kids, and flexible dining policies.
Experts suggest that the escalating costs of dining within the parks have contributed to the downturn in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which conducts annual surveys of Disney visitors, noted a drop in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as the parks transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the positive aspects of Disney’s cost-reduction strategies, he warned that these changes may not signify a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest experiences. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”